http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-14may12-en.htm Independent Objector for New gTLD Program Selected 14 May 2012 ICANN is delighted to announce that Professor Alain Pellet has agreed to serve as the Independent Objector for the New Generic Top-level domain program. The Independent Objector will act solely in the interests of the public who use the global Internet. Professor Pellet's credentials and experience are an ideal fit for this key role. He is a highly regarded professor and practitioner of law and has represented governments as Counsel and Advocate in the International Court of Justice in many significant and well-known cases. He is widely published and holds several significant honors. ICANN's formal search for an Independent Objector began with the posting of a Request for Proposals in November 2011. We also advertised, utilized the services of a global recruiting firm and welcomed word-of-mouth recommendations. Numerous candidates were interviewed and considered throughout the search process. Acting solely in the best interests of global Internet users, the Independent Objector may lodge Limited Public Interest and Community objections in cases where no other objection is made to an application that the Independent Objector deems to be objectionable. More information about the Independent Objector role can be found in the new gTLD Applicant Guidebook<http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/agb>. More information about Professor Pellet, including his curriculum vitae, can be found at: http://www.alainpellet.eu<http://www.alainpellet.eu/> We are honored by Professor's Pellet's agreement to participate in ICANN and this program. Glen de Saint Géry GNSO Secretariat gnso.secretariat@gnso.icann.org http://gnso.icann.org